Denman's ( John Brookes' garden) was my favourite
By inverglen
19 comments
Visited the garden of the renowned writer and garden designer John Brookes. It was a total delight with pathways leading you gently through a series of garden areas that make up one large 4 acre garden. Each area could have been a garden in itself. Garden design books talk about making your garden a series of rooms and this was true here but done so subtly and with such ease and skill that it was a total pleasure to visit. So many vistas and variations in colour ,size and texture that were so easy on the eye. My photographs do not do it justice. Had a friendly chat with Reg the part time gardener and John Brookes himself who still works in the garden. You enter through an interesting plant shop with wirework and statuary for sale and at the end we spotted John’s collection of old terracotta pots that filled one greenhouse. I will definitely return at sometime in the future.
30 Jul, 2012
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Comments
Anita I just wish my photography was as good as his garden designing. If I win the Euromillions jackpot I will make him an offer for it. It was wonderful.
30 Jul, 2012
Trust you had lunch or tea there Inverglen, we live fairly near to it and visit it quite often.... lovely pictures....
30 Jul, 2012
Yes Stripes. Nice snack under the tree canopy in the shade on the cafe terrace on a very hot day.
30 Jul, 2012
Looks a lovely place to visit. Whereabouts is it, InverG.?
30 Jul, 2012
Tuesdaybear it's on the A27 in Sussex between Arundel and Chichester right beside Fontwell racecourse. I loved it.
30 Jul, 2012
Very pretty gardens.
Yes, it would be interesting to visit at another time of year and notice the differences.
30 Jul, 2012
Wonderful ! An interesting place. I like the last pic :o)
30 Jul, 2012
Yes you are right TT. He only has two part-time gardeners for all that area and yet it looked great. That tells you how clever the planting is. My bet is that it looks good in every season.
Hywel, I find myself doing the same ; using real pots more and more and plastic less and less.
30 Jul, 2012
Very nice indeed.
31 Jul, 2012
Looks fab - I have several books of his here, been well thumbed over the years, one of my favourite designers. I'd no idea he had a garden you could visit though...
31 Jul, 2012
How lovely and what a lot of pots!:)
31 Jul, 2012
Bamboo , I assume that the house in the third to last picture is John Brookes' house and he works in the garden each day he is at home. It was the hottest day of the year and Reg the gardener was saying that John had been working in the garden at 6am before it got too hot but as we chatted John came along again at about 10.30 to do another stint. I think he is 80 next year. Being able to have a chat to the two of them obviously added to the pleasure of the day
31 Jul, 2012
Yes I call them real pots aswell lol and I always use them for cacti, but also more for other plants now too.
1 Aug, 2012
I reckon people who garden all the time live longer and healthier, Inverglen, lol!
1 Aug, 2012
Bamboo, I hope you are right. In fact, I'm relying on it being true !!!
1 Aug, 2012
This is one of my favourite gardens too, Inverglen ... living not too far from it but only visiting once each season ... I posted a blog in March 2011 on these gardens if you would like to see them in Spring .....
1 Aug, 2012
Shirley tulip , I have left a comment on your blog too. Looks like the garden has steadily improved and it was looking at its best at the time we went.
2 Aug, 2012
I shall read your comment next, Inverglen ... glad you enjoyed your visit to these gardens ...
2 Aug, 2012
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Wow Inverglen, stunning garden, you must have really enjoyed the visit....lucky you...:>)
30 Jul, 2012